Literary Agent Interview: Rob Broder and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Rob Broder here. He’s a literary manager at Martin Literary Management. 

Status Update: Rob is currently closed to queries. He will reopen to queries on 5/1/2026.

Hi­ Rob! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Rob: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent. 

I’ve been an agent for a few months now, and I became an agent after talking with my agent, Jen Newens about being an agent. We discussed everything involved and she knew my background, so it was a nice fit. I was considering becoming an agent when I sold our press, but other things at the time took over. I have received hundreds of submissions since becoming an agent and have signed to represent my first picture book author.

About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.

Martin Literary Management, founded in 2003, is a full service literary and media management agency. We focus on representing authors of adult nonfiction, fiction, and books for children and young adults. Our clients’ titles have appeared on the New York Times bestseller and other national bestseller lists, earned strong reviews, received many awards, and garnered national media attention. Many of our clients’ works have been optioned and developed for film and television projects and have helped promote speaking engagements.

 

We pride ourselves on providing thoughtful and considerate management of our clients. We also pride ourselves on being a modern literary agency capable of developing the many potential ancillary opportunities that exist outside of the book world.  

What He’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent, and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres? 

I gravitate toward picture books, because it’s my comfort zone, but I represent any kid lit and graphic novels. I also like graphic memoirs. I first am looking for something well written, and the writing really knows the genre they are writing for. And then it’s the story. Something fun, creative and unique. If I read a submission I’ve never seen before, I get a little excited and want to reach out to that author. 

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in? 

Something extremely unique while showing me that you read the genre you write. 

What He Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in? 

I’m generally not interested in rhyming picture books, and books about how much I love you to the moon and back. I’m not interested in how you rescued your dog or anything too violent or disturbing. 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent? 

I would say honesty and transparency. Be open to edits and rewrites to make your story the best possible story. If I want to represent you, it’s because I believe in you and see something in your writing.  

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors? 

I’d like to say I’m not, but with picture books, I can’t help myself and give constructive edits on making it the best possible manuscript possible. 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter? 

I would like authors and illustrators to query me through query-manager. If I request direct email, please do so. I’d love to see the query short and sweet and to the point. Get me hooked and make me what to scroll down to your manuscript. If I like what I’m reading, I’ll scroll back up and check out your bio. 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you? 

You do not need to start your query with, “Hello my name is . . .” Because I know who you are based on the email or I’ll see your name on the signature.  So, I want to get hooked, so just start describing your story. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript?

I try to say two weeks, but with the number of queries I’ve been receiving its more like three to four weeks. 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors:

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

I’m fine if they have been self-published or published with a small press.  If they have something new they are working on, I’d be interested in taking a look. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I am currently building up my client list. 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you. 

I hope this link comes through… here are a bunch of articles and interviews through Writers Rumpus when I was a publisher. Hope this helps. https://writersrumpus.com/?s=broder 

Links and Contact Info: 

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web. 

Please submit through QueryManager listed here: https://www.martinlit.com/robbroder 

Additional Advice: 

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered? 

Like I said, please read the genre you write. Be authentic and your true self. And be open to rewrites and edits, while standing ground on your story if you really believe in it. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Rob! 

Giveaway Details 

­Rob is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through April 4th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

 Monday, March 30, I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, April 1st, I have an interview with Christopher Roubique and a giveaway of his MG Mythspeaker and my IWSG post 

Monday, April 6th, I have an interview with Jill Tew and a giveaway of her MG Rayana Johnson’s Giant Leap

Wednesday, April 8th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Saritza Hernández and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, April 13th, I’m reviewing Jennifer Nielsen’s MG The Free State of Jax and Magnitude with a book giveaway 

Thursday, April 16th, I’m participating in the Rain Drop on Roses Giveaway Hop 

Monday, April 20th, I have an interview with Van Hoang and a giveaway of her MG Auntie Q’s Golden Claws Nail Salon 

Monday, April 27th, I have an interview with Gareth P. Jones and a giveaway of his MG Solve Your Own Mysteries 

Wednesday, April 29th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Erica Bauman and a query critique giveaway 

I hope to see you on Monday!